The Environmental Partnership, comprised of companies rooted in the oil and gas industry, recently released its sixth annual report, which indicates that O&G is making progress in reducing methane emissions. The American Petroleum Institute (API) issued a news release pointing to a 6.6 percent decrease in flare intensity accompanied by a 10 percent reduction in total flare volumes for 2023, while industry production witnessed respectable growth.
While clean energy demands continue to grow, the Environmental Partnership has undertaken several initiatives to make a positive impact. Over the past six years, more than 180,000 gas-driven pneumatics have been removed from service and replaced, reducing approximately 355,421 metric tons of methane-based emissions released to the atmosphere. Additionally, companies have endured remarkable success in decreasing their leak occurrence rate from .16 percent in 2018 to .06 percent last year. Detailed leak detection and repair initiatives paved the way for success.
“The success of industry-led initiatives like The Environmental Partnership further demonstrates our industry’s unwavering commitment to reducing methane emissions across the supply chain while helping to ensure the continued production of affordable and reliable energy,” the director of The Environmental Partnership, Emily Hague, said. “From advancements in detecting and measuring emissions to sharing operational solutions, I am proud of how our participating companies are continuing to raise the bar in our collective efforts to achieve meaningful emissions reductions.”
Vanessa Ryan, the manager of methane reduction for Chevron, acknowledged the industry’s changes over the past year, which were fueled by challenges as well as opportunities. She added, “I am excited by what we’ve accomplished over the past year and look forward to the continued progress this industry-leading partnership is positioned to achieve in the years ahead.”
According to The Environmental Partnership release, it “fosters collective efforts that are built on sharing practices and leveraging knowledge between operators, partnering with other experts to further industry understanding, and working together to identify solutions, innovations and practices that reduce methane emissions across the supply chain.”
With support mustered by big players in the industry like Chevron, ConocoPhillips, and Shell, the organization comprises approximately six hundred members who manage domestic energy through production, processing, and distribution efforts. At its core, the Environmental Partnership believes a critical component to securing a long-term energy future is deeply rooted in addressing environmental impacts, which inspires and drives the search for technically feasible solutions that enable measurable emissions reduction.
Capitalizing on the strengths of their peers, companies within the Environmental Partnership survey others and collaborate to develop and adopt means to reduce emissions. A crucial focus is placed on the group’s members’ ability to pool resources and knowledge and work together to be good stewards of the environment and promote and operate business responsibly.
Nick Vaccaro is a freelance writer and photographer. In addition to providing technical writing services, he is an HSE consultant in the oil and gas industry with twelve years of experience. Vaccaro also contributes to SHALE Oil and Gas Business Magazine, American Oil and Gas Investor, Oil and Gas Investor, Energies Magazine and Louisiana Sportsman Magazine. He has a BA in photojournalism from Loyola University and resides in the New Orleans area. Vaccaro can be reached at 985-966-0957 or [email protected].
